How do anglerfish lure prey toward their mouths?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Two wild horses graze on tall grass in the open prairie of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, with rolling badlands visible in the background. — Feeding behaviour Wild horses graze in the Badlands of North Dakota.

Anglerfish utilize a specialized adaptation to lure prey toward their mouths. The foremost spine of the dorsal fin is modified into an elongated, rod-like structure that functions as a fishing pole.123

At the tip of this rod is a fleshy "bait" that the anglerfish dangles in front of its head. For many deep-sea species, this lure is bioluminescent, helping to attract unsuspecting prey in the darkness of the ocean depths. When the prey is drawn close enough to investigate the lure, the anglerfish captures it by suddenly engulfing it within its large jaws.1243